Let me again apologize for the lack of posting. I haven’t felt like doing much of anything but sleeping and laying down, watching TV for the past week and a half. Even right now I’m not feeling too much like talking but I feel that you guys who aren’t in daily contact with me (which would be all of you but my mom and husband) would like to know what’s going on.

I had the surgery (duh?). It took about an hour and I was crazy-groggy but that didn’t stop me from getting on the phone and ringing my friend, June. I’m not sure what I said but I’m sure it gave her a good giggle. But she was able to pass the message on to several of my online pals that I had made it through to chat another day. The hospital stay was bumpy to say the least – I hope I never run into any of those nurses in the “real world” or I’ll be 30 shades of scarlet. And I may never be able to look Dr. Driskill in the eye again after he was the doc on call in the middle of my first post-op night and I, in a 2 AM morphine-haze, demanded he be called AT ONCE to get me some Xanax or send me home. I’m so ashamed. I can’t believe I’m still married.

Anyway – we got home Saturday (the 6th) and I slept until Tuesday when I got out of bed for the first time, I think. We had a list of WONDERFUL friends who brought us dinner that whole week up until tonight (THANK YOU!) and checked in with us to make sure we had everything we needed. It was so nice to feel the love!

Yesterday I finally started to feel a little better, lowering my pain meds and moving around. I’ve gotten to where I can get up earlier in the morning (an early-EARLY-for-me-8-AM this morning) and not have to take a nap, although I get a sinker mid-day. I’ve weaned completely off sodas and haven’t had anything but water or milk (with a 2 soda slip from which I quickly learned my lesson) since getting home. I feel good. I might even try a more-than-2-minute-shower tomorrow! But I don’t want to push it…

We only had one issue since we got home with a little infection-ish thing (nothing too ewey) but the doc said it wasn’t a big deal and sent me home with a bandaid so I think we’re doing good! I see the doc on Thursday for my 2 week visit to see about lifting some of my restrictions (esp. the “can’t drive” one). Hopefully we won’t have anymore set backs and we’ll only see good things from this. Chris (Dr. D) did say that it could take up to 3 months for my iron to fully “recover” so I’m hoping that’s not the case here but even so, it’s better than never, right?

So that’s that. If you have a question, ask. I’ll be back soon – I have all kinds of things to talk about (like, did I mention my brother and Hollie are HAVING ANOTHER BABY!?!?!? WHOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!). Just hang with us a little bit longer…I’m trying to do more with the kids and that takes priority, of course, but it might also lead to more pictures for you guys 😉

Well, we’ve reached the home stretch. In one week I’ll be in the hospital hopefully recovering by now but most likely still awaiting the surgery. Either way it will be the day I’ve been waiting for for a long, LONG time. I’m just so ready.

However, it doesn’t seem like all of me is. I am having serious issues sleeping and I’m having what must be my body’s version of panic attacks. I’ve finally broken down and called my GP to see if I can get any relief. Maybe they have ideas that I haven’t had yet so I can avoid another medication. I doubt it but maybe. You never know, right?

Cordi’s been really sick this week which also stresses me out. I’m so afraid that I’m going to get sick and then they won’t do the surgery. She has run fever every day this week up until today. So hopefully that means she’s done with it all but yesterday she had no fever until around noon then it spiked really high. Again, it’s just a waiting game. Hopefully she’s turned the corner, though. I worry about her so much when she’s sick. She’s so tiny and just doesn’t eat enough to maintain herself while she’s sick. I hate that. I wish I knew how to make all the kids eat more (and eat better!)

So that’s pretty much all that’s been going on here this week. Gary came back from hunting with a spike. We had our first steaks last night – they were yummy! So we now have a freezer full of meat – yay! That will help with the grocery bill for a while.

Anyway – I better get back to work. I’m trying to get all my swaps and things done before the surgery. So I’ll try to be back and post some pics of the kids before I go MIA for a while.

The group responsible for propagating the malicious program commonly known as the Storm Worm changed tactics this week, using e-mail messages masquerading as verification announcements from online Web sites and clubs to lure victims.

The e-mail messages use a fairly regular format, including a brief greeting, a supposed temporary login name and password, and a link to a malicious Web site, according to antivirus firms. The destination site will tell the user that, to log on, they need to download a secure login applet. Victims that do install the software will become infected with the Storm Worm bot software.

The names of the online Web sites used in the e-mail messages appear to be constructed from two randomly chosen words and include names “Fun World,” “Internet Dating,” and “MP3 World.” In addition, there is some evidence that the Storm Worm is using the MPack infection tool kit to compromise systems.

The Storm Worm, also known as Zhelatin and Nuwar, first started spreading in January using fairly large, but controlled, bursts of e-mail routed through previously compromised computers. Each burst typically sent out a custom variant, trying to infect systems before the user updated their antivirus definitions. The original program compromised systems by luring users into opening the attachments of messages with subject lines regarding news events, including violent storms in Europe–a characteristic that led to the program’s naming.

Earlier this month, the Research and Education Networking Information Sharing and Analysis Center (REN-ISAC) sent out a warning to universities after a number of denial-of-service attacks appeared to be aimed in retribution at schools which had scanned systems for Storm Worm infections.

I don’t have to embrace Brett Michaels.

I just got home from a trip to Mom’s and I’m trying to get settled again. Please excuse the lack of posting and stay tuned – I’ll be posting about the weekend and some great pics this afternoon/evening.